Zambia Has New President-Elect
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Zambia's President-elect, Hakainde Hichilema, on his victory in the August 12, 2021, presidential election. Buhari, in a statement issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, praised Zambians for exercising their civic rights and voting for candidates of their choice.
This, he said, demonstrated that the power of the people to freely elect their leaders is central to the prospect of a united, stable, and prosperous Africa.
President Buhari praised outgoing President Edgar Lungu for accepting the outcome of the election and ensuring a peaceful transfer of power, noting that such patriotism deserves the admiration of all supporters of democracy.
Buhari emphasized Nigeria and Zambia's close and historic relationship, saying he looked forward to working closely with the Zambian president-elect for the peace, development, and prosperity of both countries.
Zambia's New President Promises A "Better" Democracy.
In his inaugural address to the nation, Zambian President-elect Hakainde Hichilema slammed the country's outgoing "brutal regime" while promising a "better democracy" in the hours after winning the top job by a landslide.
The business tycoon and veteran opposition leader said his camp had been victims of a "brutal regime that is exiting" shortly after his predecessor, Edgar Lungu, conceded defeat. “I will be president of all Zambians, both those who voted for me and those who did not,” he promised.
According to nearly final results, Hichilema received 2,810,757 votes in Thursday's election, compared to 1,814,201 for the incumbent Lungu, after a campaign dominated by the country's economic woes and marred by sporadic violence.
Lungu conceded defeat, congratulating "my brother... Hichilema on becoming the seventh republican president."
Lungu thanked Zambians for the "great opportunity to be your president" in a nationally televised address. I will cherish and value the trust you placed in me for the rest of my life.”
In the early hours of Monday, the electoral commission declared Hichilema president-elect, effectively ending Lungu's nearly six-year reign.
“We will foster a better democracy... rule of law, restoring order, respecting human rights, liberties, and freedoms,” Hichilema, 59, promised.
Hichilema, wiping away tears, declared his victory to be the "historic moment millions of Zambians have been waiting for."
Hundreds of supporters had gathered on the dirt road leading up to Hichilema's opulent home in a leafy suburb of Lusaka, shouting "Bally, Bally" (slang for "father") as he began to speak.
“I stand before you today with great honour, humility, and gratitude to announce that change has arrived,” Hichilema said. Hichilema, who had been arrested 15 times, stated, "We are not going into the office to arrest those who arrested us." He went on to say, "Once the rule of law is restored, we will see more economic investment." It was Hichilema's sixth bid for the presidency and his third challenge to Lungu, 64, after losing by a razor-thin 100,000-vote margin in 2016.
– Thousands of supporters flocked to the streets of Lusaka, bursting into song and dance, cheering and waving party flags. The partying went on until the early hours of the morning.
Source:
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/17/buhari-congratulates-zambias-president-elect-hichilema/
https://punchng.com/zambias-new-president-vows-better-democracy/
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